Teen forced into prostitution hung out of Sheffield brothel by her legs, court told

Sarah Marshall, Multimedia Reporter

A teenage girl forced into prostitution was hung out of the window of a Sheffield flat used as a makeshift brothel for failing to clean, a court heard.

Youth Justice Officer Julie Greenhoff told Sheffield Crown Court that Girl C, who was in her care in 2009, told her Shane Whiteley, of Weakland Crescent, Hackenthorpe, hung her out of his flat in Victoria Court, West Street by her legs.

Ms Greenhoff said Girl C said Whiteley, aged 29, carried out the terrifying act as a punishment for not cleaning the flat and that she had also been ‘beaten up’ by Andres Frances-Edge, 25 of Wheatley Road, Parson Cross, for the same thing.

Girl C, who cannot be named for legal reasons, also alleges Whiteley locked her in a cupboard at the flat when she tried to leave.

The girl, who has learning difficulties and was described as being 'very vulnerable' when the Whiteley brothers and Edge are alleged to have forced her into prostitution in 2009, was being monitored by police and the youth offending service at the time due to concerns she may be the victim of sexual exploitation.

The court heard Girl C had told Ms Greenhoff and fellow youth justice worker Suzanne Sutcliffe she had been made to work as a prostitute at the flat by Whiteley, and his brothers Matthew, 24, and Christopher, 23.

Ms Sutcliffe said Girl C would become distressed at the mere mention of the Whiteley brothers. She said: “She would visibly shake. She would get upset and cry.”

Girl C would regularly visit the Youth Justice Centre in Division Street for appointments with her youth justice workers, as would Christopher Whiteley.

Ms Sutcliffe told the court that on one occasion, Girl C became extremely worried on hearing Christopher Whiteley was in the centre at the same time, and opted to leave through the back entrance.

The court heard that on one occasion Girl C was seen drinking a bottle of Blue WKD Vodka outside the centre with the three Whiteley brothers.

Ms Sutcliffe and Ms Greenhoff both told the court that due to concerns about Girl C coming into the city centre and associating with individuals, particularly the Whiteley brothers, they arranged for Girl C to have appointments at a different centre and at her home.

Ms Sutcliffe said: "I didn't want her going into the city centre.

She added: "I didn't want her going near the Whiteley boys."

The Whiteley brothers and Edge are among six defendants standing trial for 42 offences relating to child prostitution, alleged to have been carried out in Sheffield between 2005 and 2012.